I knew this was a bad idea. Logically and rationally, the worst idea I’d ever had. I knew what I’d said to Jinx just a few days ago, that I’d insisted it was time to move on. I also knew exactly how it felt after I walked out on him in Sanremo. Like a part of me was dying.

I also knew what it felt like to be with him. Cocooned in his arms, feeling safe, protected, and loved. Desired and wanted. That alone was more potent than any drug. More potent than the orgasms he doled out like candy at Halloween.

But he was still an arrogant ass. Honestly, how could he think he could call me his after everything he put me through? It was like he wanted to put a stamp on my ass so no one else could have me.

Despite all of those things, good or bad, Lucas’s lips over mine was all I wanted. I wanted that stinging electrical charge coursing through me.

“Tell me you don't feel this. Tell me you don’t want me. Say the words and I’ll walk away.”

Be strong, Bryna. Be strong. “I don't feel this.” But my fingers gripped his T-shirt.

He lifted a brow. “Something tells me you're lying to me. Say the other words Bryna. Say it so I can hear them. Tell me to stop and leave you alone.”

I had fully intended to tell him to stop. I fully planned to say the words. But then that magical shiver danced up my spine, promising me all the things that would feel insanely good but be so bad for me. And I did the stupid thing…

I pulled him closer instead of pushing him away. With a groan his lips came crashing down on mine, and all I could do was whimper and hold on for the ride.

We stumbled back to the door and fumbled with the lock as Lucas wrapped me in his arms, lifting me off the ground. I squealed at the sudden motion, but my alarm quickly morphed into heat when his head nestled into the crook of my neck. I wasn’t even sure what he was doing, breathing me in? Whatever he was doing, it felt amazing. I tipped my head to the side to allow him better access to the skin of my neck. The light graze of his teeth sent shivers through me.

He held me tighter, his tongue sliding deeper. Through clenched teeth, he bit out, “Which way?”

I pointed vaguely in the direction of my room. Jinx’s was in the opposite direction. Surprisingly we didn’t hit anything on the way. Once we were inside, he set me on my feet then shut the door behind us quietly before flicking the lock with a twist of his wrist.

My pulse sped up. I couldn’t even play it cool, not when my panties were on fire. He’d come here. For me. After everything, he’d come for me. Careful, don't get too excited. This won’t last. You know him. Have fun and don't let this affect you. Yeah, apparently I’d taken to lying to myself. This was going to devastate me. But damn, it was going to feel so good first.

My lips turned up in a wicked smile, but he didn’t bother to respond. He just spread his fingers through my hair and yanked me toward him until our mouths crashed together.

The small sting of pain on my scalp was a surprise. But what was more of a surprise was that I liked it. I liked his lack of control.

“I’ve been thinking about this since you left me in Italy. Thinking about what I’d do. How I’d do it.” He spoke in jerky tones as he began to strip my clothes from my body.

I shook and moaned when his teeth sank into my shoulder. I hadn’t even known that I could make these sounds. What was he doing to me?

Emotions roiled inside and amplified my desire until it was all I could feel. Anger, lust, and shame were a heady combination.

“Show me,” I panted. Our eyes met, and something dark and dangerous sparked in his gaze. “Show me everything you’ve imagined.”

It was obvious when his control finally snapped. Lucas growled and hitched my legs around his waist. We barely made it onto the bed, grinding against each other while standing before we fell in a heap onto the duvet, desperately ripping at each other’s clothes.

When we were both naked, he rolled me onto my stomach. I gripped the cotton duvet cover between my fingers as his head dipped and followed the curve of my hip. When his mouth settled between my thighs, I reared up with a hoarse groan.

“Yes. Give it all to me.” He pressed me back down with a firm hand on my back and the sensation of being restrained nearly sent me straight over the edge.

Lucas pushed my legs apart and I whimpered. "That’s it. I want to see how pretty you are." He muttered a low curse, then kissed my cheek. "I’m going to spend some time reminding you why you’re mine if you're okay with that."

Just the promise of pleasure and I raised my hips in invitation. God, I just wanted more. I needed it. Needed him.

He slid his tongue over my lips and I bit down to keep from crying out. I grasped the duvet and raised my hips, begging him silently to keep loving me.

I came hard as he teased my clit with his tongue, staying with me as I squirmed helplessly against wave after wave of pleasure. When it ended, I was exhausted and wrung out. Then he sat up and slid in with one thrust, bringing me right to the edge again. The thick length of him filling me.

“Fuck. Nothing in the world will ever be better than this.” He kissed my neck and nipped it gently as he reached under me and cupped my breast. With the slightest movement of his hips, he sent shockwaves through me.

“Lucas. Yes. Please.” I didn’t know what the hell I was saying. Hell, at that point, I just prayed we weren’t waking Jinx.

"Say it Bryna.” He leaned forward and whispered in my ear. “I’m the only one who makes you feel like this.”

I shook my head, trying to not make the confession. "Lucas." Deep down, I knew it was true. I had never felt with anyone the way I felt with him. My stupid heart and my traitorous body were his.

"More."

He chuckled. “That’s what I thought. His hips picked up speed, and the edges of my vision grayed. “Yes. God. Like that,” I moaned.

"You like that?” His whispers were harsh against my ear. His breath hot. "You’re so fucking beautiful. So perfect. Just tell me what I need to hear."

I was close again. So close. His grasp on my breast tightened, and I knew oblivion was seconds away. He dug his free hand into my hair and tugged until I turned my head, exposing the skin just behind my ear. His favorite place to kiss.

"So, fucking tight." He swallowed. “You don’t want to tell me. You don't have to. I know the truth. I am yours, and you are mine. Since that first night. You’re all I think about. That doesn’t just stop.”

He pulled out just as the pleasure started to spread. “Lucas!” With a smirk he gently tossed me on my back and slid back in to the hilt. God. That was good.

His gaze held me captive and didn't dare let go. Through clenched teeth, he whispered, “You fucking own me. Body and soul.”

Lucas slid a hand down my belly, and all it took was the mere brush of his finger as he pumped into me, and I flew apart again, clamping down around his driving length.

“I know you don’t believe me, but I fucking love you, Bryna. No matter what happens.”

His head fell back while his face twisted with pleasure. I could tell he was getting close by the low, sexy sounds he was making and the bunch and tense of his muscles beneath my hands.

I thrashed in his arms unable to deny him anything when he rasped in that voice, telling me he loved me. Desire curled through my veins, starting low in the pit of my belly and radiating outward until I was crying out with every thrust.

Lucas tensed and then whispered my name, and that was what sent me over. I clung to him weakly as every one of my muscles seized, clenching around him like they never wanted to let go. Like they were afraid to let go.

With my release about to render me a speechless, moaning mess, I whispered, “I still love you.”

Four more pumps and Lucas shouted his release, his erection buried deep inside me.

I woke up alone. Why the fuck did that keep happening with this girl? But she didn’t go that far. Yeah, well, the last time we made love, she bolted. Yeah, but the time before that, you bolted. I woke up and the sheets were cool. It occurred to me that Errol was still in the damn car. Shit. So much for my promise.

I tossed the covers off and climbed out of bed. I couldn’t help but snoop a little. She had a bright colored accent wall. Bright, sheer yellow. Everywhere, there were photos. A bunch in New York with that girl I’d seen her with at the bar. Ella, Ellie, something like that. Behind a collage of photos, one with some girl I’d never seen before. A pretty blond with big blue eyes and a pixie cut hair style. Then there was one of me and her in the old apartment when I’d been teaching her how to play poker or some card game. I could only assume it was poker because she was making a sad face. She always insisted I was cheating.

That’s because you were.

Bluffing was not cheating. That’s how I played the game, and I was damn good at it, but she hated it. When I went out into the living room, the same pretty blonde from the pictures was at the counter making coffee. “Good morning. You want a cup?”

I froze. “Um, okay. Thank you?”

She turned with a wide grin and knowing eyes, and her gaze skimmed me up and down. “You know, I’d seen a picture, and she talked about you, but I didn’t really understand why she was losing her damn mind. Now I get it.”

It took a lot to embarrass me. Considering the things I’d had to do since I was a kid, embarrassment wasn’t really one of those emotions I tapped into easily, but this girl had me blushing pink. “Uh, thanks, I guess.”

She poured me a cup of coffee and didn’t bother to ask how I liked it. She just gave it to me black, which was how I prefered it, unless it was Starbucks. Then bring on the sugary, stupid drinks. “And you are?”

“I’m Jinx, the best friend.”

I nodded in understanding. “Right. So, is this the part where you tell me I hurt your friend and you’ll skin me alive?”

“No, actually. This is where I tell you to get your shit together. She loves you. I think she fell for you hard when you told her that her dress was sticking in her thong. But you fucked up, so you need to figure out how to help me fix it, because I really don’t like my mopey best friend. She’s sad. She was incomplete. She has the job she’s always wanted. She’s back home with her bestie. But she’s still sad and mopey. I don’t do sad and mopey. My bestie does not do sad and mopey. I’d rather she was screaming, yelling, something… anything other than what she has been. So you need to fix it.”

I took a sip. It was good, French vanilla or something. “Look, I know. I tried. I apologized. I begged. I tried to talk to her, but she wasn’t really having that.”

“Yeah, you can’t talk to her. You have to show her. Her whole life, people have manipulated her with words. They’ve told her one thing and done another. Everyone. Well, with the exception of me. I’m unfailingly honest.”

I chuckled so bad I almost choked on the coffee. “Yeah, I’m getting that.”

“You lied to her. By omission or what, I don’t really know. She didn’t get into it, but that look on her face, it’s the same look she gets when her parents lie or disappoint her or manipulate her. I’m only giving you the benefit of the doubt because I remember the way she talked about you. Irritated. Angry. On fire. That’s the Bryna that’s always fought to come out. And when it does, someone always chooses to slap it down. You don’t seem like you want to slap it down.”

I shook my head. “On the contrary. I prefer her fighting with me. It makes for amazing sex. Also, I like that fire in her eyes. It was how I met her. It’s what drew me to her. It meant she was a match and an equal. Not someone who will hide from me or cower in front of me. I don’t want that. I want a partner. One who makes me think and want to be better. And one who will give me what for if I can’t manage it. Do you have any suggestions?”

“What? I’m supposed to do your work for you? No. Sort yourself out and make sure she sees your actions, because your words don’t mean anything to her right now.”

I took another long sip and saluted her with my mug. “Thank you for this and for the advice.”

“Yeah, you’re welcome. You fuck up again though, I’ll kill you myself. Prince or not.”

My eyes went wide. “You know?”

She nodded. “No, I’m not supposed to know it. But when the queen and king showed up in my house, wanting her to go after you, I put two and two together. I’m no dummy. So you have a lot to work out. She’s fought against this courtly life her whole existence. Obviously because of her parents. I think you can be someone to change her mind about it all. Make it worth her while?”

I nodded. “Yeah, that is absolutely my intention.”

She nodded and put her mug in the sink. “Good. Now, you can show yourself out.”

I glanced over at the clock. Six o’clock. How early had she gotten up to get away from me?

“Yeah, thanks again for the coffee and the chat.”

She nodded before sliding into what I could only guess was her bedroom. “Oh, and she had to go to work. Some kind of TV appearance with one of her artists. She didn’t run. She just went to work. You know, modern day princess and all that.”

I chuckled. “Okay, yeah, I hear you.”

So, at least the best friend was on my side. Now all I had to do was convince Bryna to forgive me. How hard could that be?